Seam ing-press



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

B. J. DOLAN.

, SBAMING PRESS.

Patented ont. 9, 188s. I

(No Mariel.) l sheets-Sheet 2.

E. J. DOLAN.

SBAMING PRESS.V

No.l 286,283. l Patented'Oot. 9, 1883.

A' 'f/ \Q%f AFS :ja-5f f J* 'BL A A M jay 4- and shown in theaccompanying drawings,

first creasing the lapped edges and bending UNITED STATES N PATENTQrricnl EDWARD J. DOLAQN, lor PHILADELPHIA,irnnnsvnvnnm.

sEAMlNG-PREs-s.

PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 286,283, dated October9, 1883.

' Application filed 511116211883. (no modem To @ZZ whom t may' concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. DOLAN, of the city of Philadelphia, countyof Bhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvementin Seaming-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to machines for making tinean bodies orseaming-presses; andl it consists in certain improvements in mechf anismfor forming 4the seam, 'all of which is fully set forth in the followingspecificationwhich form part thereof.

The object of my invention is to form a seam on tin-can bodies or sheetmetal generally by the bent portion` of seam obliquely over, so thatwhen crushed down by the hammer aperfect seam is the result.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a seaming-pressembodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of same on line.r x. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on same line of the dies, showing thefirst step in forming the seam. Fig. i is a similar view, showing thedies closed and the second step and Fig. 5 shows the seam crushed downby the hammer.

A is the frame of the machine.

B is the forming orreceiving die. y

C vis the seeming-die plunger, and works in guide A', being allowedlateral play, but kept against one face of the guide A', and leaving thespace A2 on the other by a block, F, and spring G, whose tension may beregulated by a plate, H, and screw I. This plunger G is reeiprocated bya lever, E,which is connected therewith by links e and pin e', the saidplun ger having lateral play upon said pin e. The free end of lever E isheld down by a spring, E, and may be oscillat'ed to actuate the plungerby rod E' and treadle E2. The plunger C carries the seamingdie D, whichis formed in the usual manner, exceptv that the A-shaped slot or grooveD2, formed between the body and knife-edge D', isA made oblique, and ismade to tbupon the oblique prong R, formed on the receiving-die B. I

.I is allooseguide-bar, which slides freely in the hole J' in theplunger G, the said guidebar always remaining stationary while theplunger and die reciprocate.

B is a tension or take-up bar, and. is held-to the die B by screws b',and works in a' slot, B2, and is pressed outward bysprings b2.

K isa discharging-ring, and encireles the die B, being provided withfingers k, which enter grooves b, to insure the tin being pushed fromunder die D. This ringKis reciprocated by rods K' and springs K2, whichrods are actuated by bell-crank lever L, which has one arm restingagainst the end of said rods K', or Aa cross-bar secured thereto. Thislever L is -reeiprocated by a pivoted pawl, L', secured to the rod E'orlactuated thereby. The upward movement of rod E' simply actuates thepawl L to no effect, but the downward movement thereto vreciprocates thering K".

M is aA guide under which the sheet metal is pushed, and tends to keepit in shape during the act of forming the seam, and may be adjusted toand from the die B by rod m and nuts m'. The die B is prolonged tosupport the crimped can-body to be hammered, and may be provided with agroove, T, to insure the proper bending of the crimp to form a com pactand perfect seam.

N is the hammer, and is secured to the bottom of avertically-reciprocating rod, N', gui ded in bearings n, and provided onthe top with a head, N, This hammer is pressed downward by springs N3.It is lifted by a lever, 0, provided on itsfree end with a pawl, O',kept in working position by a spring, O2, which pawl catches under thehead N2 of rod N'. The other end of lever O is oscillated by a rod, P,and treadle P'.

In machines for making small cans the die -B is so reduced in diameterlthat it is desirable to support it against the force of the hammer N bysuitable auxiliary means, which support said die B only when the hammerstrikes it, the said support being entirely clear of the die B whencrimping the seam and insertingthe tin or removingnthe nished can-body.To do this I pivot an arm, S, to a shaft, S', supported in bearing S2,the said shaft being rocked by a crank, S3, which is pulled up by aspring, S", and down by a rod, S5, hinged to the treadle B',foroperating the hammerN, the said rod S5 being adapted to slide loosely inthe crank Si,

and provided with a head, S". When the treadle B' is pressedl down, thehammer is slightly raised. Then the head S6 of rod S5 catches on thecrank i3 and pulls it down, throwing'in the arm S under the die B justas IOL;

the hammer is freed and falls. The parts then l with a vertically andlaterally reciprocating assumel their original positions, when thepressure is removed from the treadle. This support mechanism may-,bemade in various ways, and I therefore do not limit myself to the detailsof, construction.

The operation is as followsb' The sheet-metal strip to form the can-bodyis bent around the die B, the ends lapped and passed under guides M andJ, and the outer free end brought against the guide J, as shown in Fig.3. The treadle E2 is then pressed down. rlhis lowers the die D, crimpingthe lapped sheet metal, and to- M.ward the completion of the downwardmovement the oblique grooves in thedies cause the die D and its plungerC to move laterally, closing the space A2 and opening the space G,compressing spring G, and thereby crimping the sheet metal with anoblique bent part, as shown in Fig. 4. rFhe spring E then comes intoplay, raising die D, and the rod E is pulled down, which action pushesforward ring K, causing the crimped can-body Q to be pushed forwardunder the hammer N, which has been raised, the tension-bar B keepingthe' crimped ends clamped firmly. The treadle I is then pushed down asfar as possible, or until the pawl of lever O slips from under head N 2,when the springs N 3 force the hammer down upon the oblique crimp,causing it to bend down in the right direction and insuring perfectseams. The main novelty in this invention lies i-n the oblique formationof the seaming-crimp, so that it must bend in the right direction whenstruck by the hammer.

Flat sheet metal may also be joined by this machine; but in place of around die, B, a fiat table would be required.

I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown, as it may bemodified in various ways Without departing from myinvention.

I am aware of the patent to Gordon, No.

222,691, lof 1879, and do not claim anything therein set forth or shown.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

I. A sheet-inctal-scaming press provided with two dies having obliquecrimping-faces, said dies being adapted to form a crimp to the lappededges of the sheet metal, both faces of which crimp are oblique, to theend that when the said crimp is struck with a hammer it is caused tobend in thel right direction, and mechanism to operate said dies,substantially as and for vthe purpose specified.

2. In a sheet-metal-seaming press, the coinbination of a stationary orfixed-die with a vertically and laterally reciprocating crimping-die,and means to operate said die, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

3. A sheet-metal-seaining press provided with a vertically and laterallyreciprocating crimping-die, a receiving-die, and seaminghammer,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4f. A sheet-metal-seaming press provided crimping-die, a receiving-dieand seaminghammer, and suitable guides to control the feed and deliveryof the sheet metal, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. A sheet-metal-seaming press provided with a vertically and laterallyreciprocating crimping-die, a receiving-die and seaminghammer, and adischarging device by which kthe crimped sheet metal is automaticallyfed under the hammer, substantially as and for the purpose specified. i

6. The combination of die B, having oblique knife-edge B, with die D,having oblique groove D2 and knife-edge D, substantially vas and for thepurpose specified. l

7. The combination of die B, having oblique knife-edge B, with dieD,having oblique groove D2, knife-edge D', and means to reciprocatesaiddie D vertically and laterally, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

8. The combination of guide A', plunger C, die D, block F, and spring G,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. The combination of guide'A, plunger C, die D, block F, spring G,plate H, and bolt I, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

l0. The combination of guide A', plunger C, die D, dieiB,rloose guide J,and rigid guide M,

substantially as and for the purpose specified. f

11. The combination of guide A, plunger G, die D, block F, spring G, dieB, and take-up bar B, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

12. The combination of die B, die D, means to reciprocate said die Dvertically, and also give it lateral motion, hammer N, rod N', springN3, head N, lever O, having springpawl O', rod' I), and treadle Pf,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

13. The combination of die B, dischargingring K, means to reciprocatesaid ring, die D, means to reciprocate said die D vertically, and alsogive it lateral motion, hammer N, rod N, spring N, head N2, lever O,having pawl O', rod P, and treadle P', substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

14. The combination of a tin-can-body-receiving die, B, a hammer tostrike said die, a movable support for said die, mechanism to actuatesaid hammer and support, and so timed that the support is automaticallyplaced under said die just as the hammer falls, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

,15. rlhe combination of hammer N, die B, and pivoted support S,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

16. 'Ihe combination of hammer- N, die B, pivoted support S, shaft S',crank S, rod S5,

,having head S,spring S, and treadle S/, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD ..I.` DOLAN.

Vitnesses:

R. M. HUNTER, WILLIAM McWAnn.

IOO

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